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2009 BASEBALL REVIEW

Seniors Mark Ramos (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) and John Wagle (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) put the finishing touches on stellar careers for the Augustana Vikings in 2009. The duo each notched a career school record and helped veteran head coach Greg Wallace’s team compiled a 23-17 overall record.

Ramos belted 13 triples and took down the existing mark of 11 set by Mike Gray from 1984-87 while Wagle drove in 154 runs to break the previous RBI record of 142 set by Bryan Phillips from 2003-06.

The Vikings were an extremely productive offensive unit throughout the season, batting .319 as a team and averaging 8.5 runs per contest. Ramos and Wagle were in the middle of most of that run production, as they have been throughout their successful run with the Augustana baseball program. An ankle injury slowed Ramos at the end of the season but he still managed to hit .378 with 56 hits in 148 at-bats while scoring 36 runs with seven doubles, five triples, four home runs and 41 runs-batted-in. He has been a fixture at shortstop for the last four years. Wagle, who split time at second base and third bases before finally settling in as the designated hitter, batted .330 with 58 hits in 176 at-bats with 32 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 33 RBI.

In addition to the school records, Wagle and Ramos leave Augustana with their names peppered throughout the school’s top-ten lists. On the career list Wagle is second in at-bats (653), fifth in runs scored (142), second in hits (243), third in doubles (43), second in triples (12), eighth in home runs (17), first in runs-batted-in (154) and eighth in stolen bases (38). Ramos is third in at-bats (593), fourth in runs scored (147), fourth in hits (212), first in triples (13), sixth in runs-batted-in (114) and ninth in stolen bases (37).

Veteran head coach Greg Wallace has put together quite a program at his alma mater and the 23-17 record in 2009 marks the 12 th straight year that the Vikings have won at least 20 games under his tutelage. Wallace took over prior to the 1998 campaign and during that time frame the Blue & Gold has compiled a record of 356-162 for a winning percentage of .687. In College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin action Wallace’s team has gone 149-98 (.603). Prior to Wallace’s arrival, the Vikings had only reached the 20 victory plateau twice in school history dating back to 1912. Since 1999 Augustana has won at least 30 games in a single season on seven different occasions.

Injuries hampered the Vikings in 2009, especially down the stretch. Three starting pitchers went down to arm trouble and several position players were missing for various reasons as well. After completing a sweep of Millikin in a three game series at home on April 12, Augustana was 21-7 and looked poised for another 30 victory season. Over the final 12 games of the season, however, the Vikings were able to garner just two more victories. They made it into the CCIW tournament for fifth consecutive season and the 10 th time in the last 12 seasons. A loss to eventual champion Carthage dropped Augustana into the loser’s bracket and the season ended there with a 14-12 loss to Wheaton.

Sophomore Dave Hoffman (Cary Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) and Wagle were named first team all-conference while senior Myles Kurnick (Buffalo Grove HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Eric Izzo (Lockport HS, Lockport, Ill.) were second team picks. Hoffman batted .363 with 58 hits in 160 at-bats while scoring 34 runs with 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 31 runs-batted-in. He hit .420 in conference play. Wagle led the CCIW in at-bats (94) and total plate appearances (101) in conference games only. He was also a second team academic all-district Kurnick hit .317 overall with 32 hits in 101 at-bats with 27 runs scored, five doubles, one home run and 16 RBI. In the conference season he went .345 in 18 games. Izzo played in 35 games on the season and batted .319 with 43 hits in 135 at-bats. He scored 36 runs and had 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 25 RBI. He batted .338 in 18 CCIW contests.

The Vikings led the conference in a total of eight offensive categories: at-bats (737), plate appearances (857), total bases (334), doubles (51), runs-batted-in (159), hits (237), runs scored (172) and batting average (.322).

Mike Pagano (Niles Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) led the team in pitching victories with a 5-2 record despite being injured for the last half of the season. He had a 4.32 earned run average with 30 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings of work. Matt Erickson (Marmion Academy, Channahon, Ill.) went 4-4 with a 6.48 earned run average and led the team in strikeouts with 57 and in innings pitched with 66 2/3. Grant Loiselle (Bloomington Central Catholic HS, Normal, Ill.) was 3-0 with a 4.10 ERA in 37 1/3 innings of work while posting 42 strikeouts.

AUGUSTANA INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS: Most Triples – 13, Mark Ramos…breaks previous record of 11 set by Mike Gray (1984-87)…Most Runs Batted In – 154, John Wagle…breaks previous record of 142 set by Bryan Phillips (2003-06)…Most Walks – 103, Don Hansen…breaks previous record of 94 set by Jason Fosdick (1997-00).